ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to predict baseline neurocognitive and postural control performance using a measure of motivation, high school grade point average (hsGPA), and Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) score. DESIGN: Cross-sectional. SETTING: Clinical research center. PARTICIPANTS: Eighty-eight National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I incoming student-athletes (freshman and transfers). INTERVENTIONS: Participants completed baseline clinical concussion measures, including a neurocognitive test battery (CNS Vital Signs), a balance assessment [Sensory Organization Test (SOT)], and motivation testing (Rey Dot Counting). Participants granted permission to access hsGPA and SAT total score. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Standard scores for each CNS Vital Signs domain and SOT composite score. RESULTS: Baseline motivation, hsGPA, and SAT explained a small percentage of the variance of complex attention (11%), processing speed (12%), and composite SOT score (20%). CONCLUSIONS: Motivation, hsGPA, and total SAT score do not explain a significant amount of the variance in neurocognitive and postural control measures but may still be valuable to consider when interpreting neurocognitive and postural control measures.
